Walmart?!

  Walmart is not a place I shopped at in California.   Personally, I prefer to spend my money on food at farmers’ markets and independent grocery stores.  I know that lots of people in the U.S. shop at Walmart, seeking out low prices and the convenience of everything (or almost everything) being in one place.  I also know that Walmart is now the largest retailer in the world.  

  The Walmart in Las Cascadas in San Salvador is a busy place.  The few times I’ve been there I saw many Salvadorenan families doing their weekly shopping.  They have a big grocery section offering competitive prices (compared to the Super Selectos grocery chain) and even offer some organic vegetables from a cooperative in Northern El Salvador called “Productores Organicos”. 

  I’m curious to see how Walmart as an international company will change and grow over time.  They have been under scrutiny in the U.S. for gender discrimination and low pay wages. They were also accused of selling organic vegetables that weren’t actually organic.  Being as large as they are, they have a lot of influence, both good and bad, within the food industry.  I’d like to think there’s room in the market for everyone, big and small alike. We shall see.  Nevertheless, I plan to continue to seek out the small stores and markets that have a lot more to offer than just low prices.

  Yo no fui a Walmart en California.  A mi me prefiero gastar mi dinero en los mercados agricolas y tiendas independientes.  Se que mucha gente hacer compras en Walmart en los estados unidos, buscando precios bajos y la conveniencia de encontrar todo (o casi todo) en un solo lugar.  Tambien se que Walmart es ahora el mas grande revendedor en el mundo.

  El Walmart en las Cascadas en San Salvador es un lugar muy concurrido.  Las pocas veces que he estado alli vi muchas familias salvadoreñas haciendo sus compras semanales.  Tienen una seccion de comestibles grandes e incluso ofrecen algunos vegetales organicos producidos por la Cooperativa “Productores Organicos” en Los Planes, La Palma, Chalatenango. 

  Tengo curiosidad de ver como Walmart, una empresa internacional, va a cambiar y crecer con el tiempo.  Ellos son tan grandes y tienen mucha influencia, mala y buena, adentro de la industria de comida.  Me gustaria pensar que haya espacio para todos, grande y pequeno.  Vamos a ver.  Sin embargo, voy a continuar buscando tiendas y mercados pequenos que tienen mucho mas a ofrecer que solo precios bajos.

Valentine’s Day! - El gran dia de San Valentin!

Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!  I like this day a lot.  I’m not exactly sure why, something about flowers and hearts and reds and pinks get me really excited.  It’s a day I like to celebrate in a quirky sort of way.  Here are some photos I took recently that feature the pinks and reds and hearts that make me happy.  Enjoy the day!  Feliz dia de San Valentin!  Me gusta mucho este dia.  No se exactamente porque pero algo que ver con las flores, los corazones y los colores me hacen feliz.  Aqui estan fotos con las cosas que me gustan.  Disfruta el dia!

Dulce de Leche cookies from San Martin Bakery
Galletas Alfajores de la Panaderia San Martin
 http://www.sanmartinbakery.com/eng/

Wax apples – Guindas Japonesas
A tropical fruit that looks prettier than it tastes.  
Una fruta tropical que luce mejor que el sabor.

A piece of art from an upcoming show at the Spanish Cultural Center 

in San Salvador about migration.  Arte del show que comienza este miercoles en el

Centro Cultural de Espana sobre el fenomeno migratorio.  

www.ccespanasv.org

Hibiscus flowers - Rosa de Jamaica
Perfect for a refreshing drink.  
Perfecto para una bebida refrescante.

Valley of the Hammocks - El Valle de las Hamacas

This was the nickname that the Spaniards gave San Salvador in the 1500s thanks to the frequent seismic activity from its fault line and volcanoes.  In the month that we’ve been here, we have felt at least four earthquakes.  Being from Oakland, California, earthquakes are more familiar to me than snow.  Not that I’m comfortable with them, but I expect them to happen and worry a bit when they don’t.  Some people have emergency kits and escape plans (something I need to work on), others hope for the best.  I’ve been told that the Salvadorans have many superstitions and taboos related to “terremotos” and “temblores”.  I look forward to learning what some of them are and to seeing how they might influence their culture. For those of you living in places where tremors and shakes occur…how do you think they influence you and your culture?

A trip to the beach – un viaje a la playa

Here are a few shots from a recent visit to El Sunzal beach in La Libertad:  some smooth rocks, the beach with surfers in the background hoping for waves, and a lime “frozen” (pronounced fro-sin).  So glorious to walk on the black sand beach.  Look forward to going back!  Aqui estan fotos de mi visita a la Playa el Sunzal: rocas lisas, la playa, y un limon “frozen”.  Fue tan maravilloso a caminar por la playa.  No puedo esperar a volver!

Pura Vida! Highlights from a visit to Costa Rica

Centro Espiral Mana – An amazing school offering ESL-EFL teacher trainings as well as sessions in non-violent communication.  Located in a remote location, the school provides meals prepared by excellent local cooks.  The day of our visit, they prepared an afternoon snack of empanadas, made with yellow corn flour and milk, filled with refried black beans, and fried in oil – delicious!  Una escuela impresionante que ofrece ESL-EFL entrenamientos, y sesiones de comunicacion no violenta.  Situado en una ubicacion remota, la escuela ofrece platos preparados por excelentes cocineras locales.  El dia de nuestra visita, se prepararon una merienda de empanadas, hechas con harina de maiz y leche, llena de frijoles refritos negros, y fritas en aceite - delicioso! www.tesoltrainingcostarica.org

Volcan Arenal – A smoldering volcano (look closely to see the smoke escaping from the top and the hawk sitting in the tree) where people from all over the world travel to seek out adventure.  On an early Sunday morning, with the help of a local guide, we managed to see over 35 different species of birds in less than two hours. The photo is a Black-crested Coquette hummingbird.  Un volcan humeante donde gente de todo el mundo viajan a buscar la aventura.  Un domingo por la manana, con la ayuda de un guia local, vimos mas de 35 especies diferentes de aves en menos de dos horas. www.arenal.net

Café Britt – Just outside of San Jose, Britt coffee gives fun informational tours at their coffee roasting facility. Justo en las afueras de San Jose, Café Britt ofrece diversion tours informativas.  www.cafebritt.com

Mantras Veggie Café and Tea House – Cool to see the “alternative” people of San Jose while enjoying healthy fresh vegetarian food, Costa Rican style.  Que chevere ver la gente “alternativa” de San Jose, mientras disfruta comida saludable y vegetariana en el estilo costarricense.